Two traffic wardens dismissed, over N15, 000 extortion

It was end of the road for two traffic wardens in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, as they were dismissed for extortion.

The duo, Musa Muktari and Shuaibu Suleman before their dismissal were attached to the Wuse Police Division, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit, (PCRRU), Abayomi Shogunle, in a statement, said the policemen have been given Orderly Room trial.

According to him, the Provost Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja found both wardens guilty of abuse of office, soliciting and receiving a bribe contrary to Paragraph C sub (IV), (VI) and (II) of the 1st Schedule of the Police Act and Regulation CAP 370 of 1990.

“On 30th May, 2017 a motorist, (name withheld) came to the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU) FHQ Abuja and reported that while driving his vehicle on 29th May, 2017 (12:30pm) along Wuse market road he was accosted by two Traffic Wardens who accused him of “beating traffic light” despite the fact that he did not.

Shogunle, who quoted the complainant further said:” the wardens started demanding for bribe before they will allow him go and they led him to an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) not far from the scene where he was forced to make a withdrawal of N15,000 from his account which he gave to the traffic wardens”.

The complainant, he said also stated that that one of the wardens forgot his mobile phone in his car.

“PCRRU immediately launched an investigation, both traffic wardens where identified and apprehended, while the sum of N15,000 earlier extorted from the complainant was recovered from both wardens (N7,500 each as money was already shared”, the Police officer said

Both wardens were subsequently defaulted and referred to the Force Provost Marshal FHQ Abuja for Orderly Room trial, during which all witnesses were called, exhibits were presented and defaulters, both wardens heard.

The ACP, said the adjudicating officer found both defaulters guilty as charged and recommended punishment of dismissal from service.

“The orderly room proceeding has been reviewed by the appropriate NPF authority and the punishment approved with immediate effect. Traffic warden uniforms, ID cards and all police accoutrements issued to the men have been retrieved and all other dismissal procedure completed”, Shogunle stated, adding that the complainant has also been handed back his N15,000, extorted money with an apology from the PCRRU.